Chloe looked at William, pleading. “Will? Is this true? Tell him it’s a mistake!”

William looked up at her from where he knelt in my blood. His face held no anger. Only chilling revulsion.

“It’s Captain Sterling to you,” he said coldly. “And yes. She’s the commander of the Joint Task Force. I’d be in a body bag right now if it weren’t for her.”

From the crowd, my father broke. Robert Vance scrambled forward, shoving past a bridesmaid, his face slick with panic, forcing a sickening laugh.

“General Sterling! Marcus, please!” he babbled, hands up. “It’s a misunderstanding! A terrible family squabble! Elena is — she’s unwell! She fell. Right, Elena?

You tripped!”